Construction projects
2019 construction season underway
Hennepin County is ramping up work for the 2019 transportation construction season. During the year, the county will deliver on several projects designed to get residents around safely and efficiently.
We remind people to allow for extra time and to slow down when traveling past construction sites and county crews.
Four new county projects begin
The first new project to get underway this year, Fort Snelling area county road (County roads 204 and 205) area reconstruction, should be completed later this year. Crews will remove and replace pavement, as well as improve trails, accessibility and stormwater management.
Crews will also continue work on Midtown Greenway bridges as they move to the next project, reconstruction of the Fremont Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis. The project will create a new bridge that can support all transportation modes – driving, walking, biking and rolling – and improve safety for people using the Midtown Greenway. The county completed similar updates to the Portland and Cedar avenue bridges last year.
Later in the summer, the county will begin making improvements at the intersection of Shoreline Drive (County Road 15) and Shadywood Road (County Road 19) in Orono. This work will help with safety issues at the intersection and improve the experience for people walking and driving through the area. Utilities and curbs and gutters will be replaced as well.
People will also see construction begin on Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81) in Brooklyn Park. This is the fourth project since 2008 to upgrade this county road between Robbinsdale and Osseo to make the road safer for all users, provide better traffic flow and reduce congestion and delays. Over the next two years, this project will add through lanes and dedicated turn lanes. There will also be new sidewalks, curbs and traffic signals. Utilities will be replaced and new stormwater systems will be installed. And, the Crystal Lake Regional Trail will be extended. To do this year’s work, the project will close Bottineau Boulevard between 71st Avenue to just south of Brooklyn Boulevard (County Road 130/152).
Several other county projects continue
The county continues reconstructing Flying Cloud Drive (County Road 61) in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. Last year, crews were able to complete the project’s first stage. Second stage work continuing this year will raise the road above the Minnesota River 100-year flood plain and add a multi-use trail along the north side of the road that will fill a gap in the trail network from Shakopee to Eden Prairie.
Two multi-year road projects – 66th Street (County Road 53) in Richfield and Wayzata Boulevard (County Road 112) in Long Lake and Orono – are winding down this year. Both projects upgraded the driving surface, added new utilities underground, improved storm water management and offer new features for people walking, biking and rolling.
Other major construction projects on county roads
Crews from cities, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and utilities will also be working on some of our county roads this season, in collaboration with the county. The major coordinated projects this season include:
The county is also a partner in two larger regional projects, MnDOT’s 35W@94 reconstruction project and the Metropolitan Council’s Southwest LRT (METRO Green Line extension) project.
More notable activities
During the year, county crews will also be working on several other projects, including:
And, in the next few weeks, crews will begin smaller-scale road and bridge projects including safety improvements, road repaving, restriping and pavement sealing projects, as well as bridge maintenance activities. More information about these projects can be found at www.hennepin.us/roadmaintenance
Additional projects may be announced during the construction year.
How to stay informed
The county and its partners will also be involved in public information and engagement activities for various corridor improvements and upcoming projects, for example Broadway Street Northeast (County Road 66) improvements in Minneapolis, West Broadway Bridges (County Road 81) connecting Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, and the County Road 92 intersection reconstruction at Highway 12 in Independence.
Find out more information about all 2019 county road and bridge projects and activities – and how to stay informed – at www.hennepin.us/residents#transportation.